He is pretty comfortable there; public consideration follows him; sooner or later he is certain to be pardoned, because the Pope, utterly indifferent to his crime, finds it more profitable, and less expensive, to turn him loose than to keep him.
Put the worst possible case.

Imagine a crime so glaring, so monstrous, so revolting, that the judges, who happen to be the least interested in the question, have been compelled to condemn the criminal to death.
You probably imagine that, for example's sake, he will be executed while his crime is yet fresh in the popular recollection.

Nothing of the sort.

He is cast into a dungeon and forgotten; they think it probable he will die naturally there.

In the month of July, 1858, the prison of the small town of Viterbo contained twenty-two criminals condemned to death, who were singing psalms while waiting for the executioner.
At length this functionary arrives; he selects one out of the lot and decapitates him.